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By A. Eilers

In a former paper on Western Smelting Works, I mentioned the great difficulty of obtaining accurate information in regard to the economy of the processes in practice; and to-day, although nearly two years have elapsed since my former paper was written, I am sorry to say that very little improvement has taken place in the keeping of accounts, and in the direction of a more systematic management in the majority of these works. But I am quite certain that by this time even the most sanguine furnace managers must have become convinced, from the experience of the last year, that somewhere in their processes there are enormous losses. Rates for the purchase of ores in 1873 were not as high as they were in former years in certain parts of the country ; labor was no 'higher than formerly; the demand for unparted lead was good throughout the year, with the only exception of the time of the panic, in the fall of 1873; yet there are, of between 40 and 50 works, not more than two or three in Utah and Nevada to-day, that have paid a reasonable interest on the capital invested.

The Institute was founded in 1894 as the Chemical and Metallurgical Society of South Africa. In 1904 it was reconstituted as the Chemical Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa and in 1956 it became the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The objects of the Institute are to advance the science and practice of mining and metallurgy, to afford opportunities for the interchange and recording of knowledge of mining and metallurgy and to ensure high standards of professional conduct and competence. Membership benefits include monthly issues of the Journal of the Institute, General Meetings at which papers are read, symposia, excursions to mining and industrial concerns and the use of club facilities at Kelvin House. Technical journals received on an exchange basis are available to members at the Johannesburg Public Library. The current membership of the Institute is over 1 600. Membership applications are accepted from suitably qualified persons and the requirements for entrance to the various grades of membership are summarised below. Fellows shall not be less than 30 years of age, shall be university graduates in pure or applied science or shall produce evidence to the satisfaction of the Council that they have successfully completed a co-ordinated course of study in pure or applied science of at least three years' duration at an approved university or institution deemed by the Council to be of equivalent status. Members shall have been employed in senior technical positions in important mining or metallurgical undertakings for at least five years or they shall have practised as mining or metallurgical consultants for at least five years. They shall be practising their profession at the time of application. Entrance fee R10,00, Annual subscription R20,00. Letters of designation: F.S.A.I.M.M. Members shall be not less than 25 years of age and shall be university graduates in pure or applied science, or shall have successfully completed co-ordinated courses of study in pure or applied science of at least three years' duration. They shall have been engaged in work of an approved technical character in the mining or metallurgical industries, of which not less than two years shall have been in positions of responsibility. A candidate shall be practising his profession at the time of his application. Entrance fee R8,00, Annual subscription R18,00. Letters of designation: M.S.A.I.M.M. Associates shall be not less than twenty-five years of age, and shall have been engaged in positions of responsibility in, or associated with, the mining or metallurgical industries for periods of not less than three years. If, however, the candidate for admission to the higher grade of Associate, is at the time of his application, already a Student, he need satisfy the Council only that he is, at the time of his application, engaged in a position of responsibility in or associated with the mining or metallurgical industries. In all cases the applicants shall satisfy the Council that they are fit and proper persons to become Associates. Entrance fee R8,00, Annual subscription R18,00. Graduates shall be not less than 21 years of age and shall be university graduates in pure or applied science, or have completed co-ordinated courses of study in pure or applied science of at least three years' duration at an approved university or institution. They shall not remain Graduate members after attaining the age of 30 years without the permission of Council. Entrance fee R2,00, Annual subscription R12,00. Students shall be persons not less than 18 years of age who are being educated or trained in a manner approved by the Councils to occupy a technical position in or associated with the mining or metallurgical industries and who, furthermore, shall not have attained the qualification required for a higher grade of membership. They may remain Students until they have obtained the necessary qualifications for transfer to a higher grade of membership, but not after the end of the Institute's financial year in which they attain the age of 28 (twenty-eight) years. They shall then transfer to a higher grade to retain membership of the Institute. The Council may relax the provisions of this clause in such cases as it considers appropriate. Entrance fee nil; Annual subscription R5,00. Other. The Council has the power to elect to the grade of Fellow or Member, candidates who may not fulfil all the requirements for entrance to these grades but whose status, professional achievements and practical experience in mining or metallurgy justify such election. Applications. Requests for membership application form should be addressed on the attached form to the Secretaries South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, P.O. Box 61019, Marshalltown, Transvaal.

By H. J. E. Hamel

Some aspects of the deformation behaviour and temperature rise during instantaneous compression loading of high purity aluminium By H. J. E. HAMEL The influence of deformation speed on the deformation behaviour of high purity aluminium was investigated. By varying the initial height-to-diameter ratio a considerable influence on the deformation behaviour could be noticed. Lubrication of the specimen end faces was found to have an influence on the flow behaviour and on the roughness of the specimen interface at pressing platens. The results of temperature measurements during deformation agree with work-hardening behaviour of the specimens. Flow curves calculated with the measured temperature rises do not agree with results obtained at lower strains by other workers. The possible reasons are discussed.

By Hasan Nizamoğlu, Z. Abidin Sarı, Aslıhan Demiraslan, M. Deniz Turan, Tolga Depci

In this study, recovery of copper from solid material (obtained by leaching of chalcopyrite with oxalic acid in the presence of hydrogen peroxide) with a copper oxalate structure was carried out selectively using HCl. The chemical composition of the solid was as 29.3%, 9.7%, and 13.3% for Cu, Fe, and S, respectively. Selective recovery of copper by degrading the copper oxalate structure with a low-solubility product (Ksp = 4.43 × 10−10) was performed by conventional leaching in the presence of HCl. The optimum leaching conditions were determined as 5 M of HCl concentration, 318 K of leaching temperature, 120 min of leaching time, 25 ml/g of liquid–solid ratio and 400 rpm of stirring speed. Under these conditions, approximately 77% of copper and 3% of iron were taken into the solution. According to the characterization of the leach residue that was obtained, the oxalate structure was degraded. Moreover, the results of XRD analysis showed that the sulfur (S) and cubanite (CuFe2S3) phases were mostly observed in leaching residues, and this was supported by the SEM-EDX data. Based on the results, it may be stated that selective copper extraction can be obtained from a chalcopyrite concentrate by a two-step leaching method using a conventional hydrometallurgical technique.

By Dana C. Reinke, David K. I Ingram

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health partnered with the water well industry to develop engi­neering control technologies and training products to address noise exposure at the job site. Noise­induced hearing loss continues to be a problem in the well drilling industry. Research con­ducted by NIOSH found that air rotary drill rigs produce sound levels more than 90 dB(A) over the course of an eight­hour workday. Sounds levels above 90 dB(A), identified during hammer drilling and the hammering of casing, exposes workers to levels that can damage hearing. A typical air rotary drill rig provides no barrier, for noise and dust pro­tection, between the drill’s control panel and the drill stem. The development of a partial cab is the clearest example of NIOSH’s research partnership with the water well industry. NIOSH researchers determined that an engineering noise control to protect the oper­ator at the rig’s control panel would be effective, based on typical work site conditions. Many surface rigs do not have full cabs as a result of the original equipment manufacturer design or the high cost of aftermarket products. Developed as a partial cab, the NIOSH engineer­ing noise control design addressed stakeholders’ needs associated with cost, transport, and worker usage (Figure 1). Field tests found the partial cab effective in reducing sound levels at the rig’s control panel, a typical location for a drill rig operator. Sound levels at the control panel were reduced from 104 to 96 dB(A) (Figure 2). Coupled with continued use of personal protective equipment, such as hear­ing protection devices, the partial cab can help to reduce noise exposure. NIOSH researchers created a CD with informa­tion about noise exposure and the partial cab. Most important to well drilling companies is information on how to construct and attach the partial cab to drill rigs. The CD can be viewed on a standard computer and includes a video of the partial cab in use on a work site. Computer­aided design drawings are included on the CD and provide detail of the cab design as well as information on construction mate­rials and design details. Additionally, the CD provides background infor­mation on noise­induced hearing loss and hearing protection devices to increase knowledge about this occupational health concern. This information can be viewed by all company employees to help promote the partial cab’s importance to workers using the cab. More information on the partial cab noise control technology can be downloaded from www.cdc.gov/ niosh/mining NIOSH researchers also examined the health and safety training needs of workers in the ground water industry. It was quickly realized that most workers learn health and safety on the job and do not attend any sort of formal training. In addition, there is not a lot of time for daily “tailgate talks” or “shop talks” on health and safety issues. As a small business industry, the owner is often operating a drill rig along with his other employees. In general, new employees learn the job in an apprentice style sys­tem. As a result, workers and owners have few opportunities to access uniform health and safety information based upon the job — an outdoor work environment with daily change in work sites. With this information, NIOSH researchers devel­oped two products that deliver health and safety information to fit into the daily work of well drillers. Both are information circulars and are available through download at www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining and the NGWA Web site at www.ngwa.org/publication/ publications.cfm. These circulars are: Water Well Safety Bits. This booklet provides information in a “quick bites” style. It is pre­sented in a magazine format and can be left on

By R. W. Raymond

I have the pleasure of exhibiting samples of the rock in which the South African diamonds are said to occur, for which I am indebted to Mr. Franz Groeger, of Vienna, formerly an assistant of the Royal Imperial Geological Institution, whose account of the general geology of Southern Africa was contained in a recent number of the proceedings of that Institution. The rock is apparently a sort. of tufa, evidently of volcanic origin. Mr. Groeger assured me that it could be seen in situ, bounded by uplifted stratified rocks; and that diamonds had been mined from it, by means of shafts, some distance below the surface. Groeger calls it " greenstone-tufa," and says of it, in the proceedings of the Geological Institution, " it breaks through the younger members of Group III [lower Trias and Jura], .... and crops out in oval masses, filling fissures.....The occurrence of this tufa is not locally limited, but has been traced and proved already over a large territory." Dr. Hunt remarked that the material looked like the trass of the Rhine region. He thought it a new occurrence for diamonds. He believed diamonds to belong to ancient crystalline rocks, although these materials might be brought up by volcanic agency, and the diamonds remain unaltered. In the volcanic rooks of Auvergne, crystals of sapphire, zircon, and spinel are found; and yet no one supposes that these minerals have been generated by volcanic agency. He had had a conversation with Bertrand de Lorn on this subject, who agreed with him that these minerals, being hard and resistant,

By D. J. Bosman

Rapid fouling of condenser tubes in underground refrigeration plants is a frequent occurrence. It leads to low heat transfer efficiencies, with consequent serious reduction in capacity and increase in the horse-power requirement of the units. High pressures develop in the condensers, and frequent cleaning of the tube bundles is required. The cleaning operation takes up to 8 hours and in some cases results in significant loss of production. One of the possible causes of fouling is deposition of scale, but this can be readily overcome by controlling the concentration of the water. When water evaporates, the dissolved solids remain behind; thus evaporation increases the amount of dissolved solids per unit volume. If half the original volume evaporates, the concentration of the dissolved solids is doubled and the water is said to have a 'concentration' of two. Concentration may be controlled by regulating the amount of water allowed to bleed from the system. The actual concentration value required is a function of the chemical analysis of the circulating cooling water. In one instance, where the problem of scale formation had been eliminated, fouling still persisted, and the possibility of excessive quantities of dust in the re-circulating water was investigated. A dispersing reagent was added to the condenser cooling water as a means of preventing sludge deposition in the condenser tubes. As shown by curve A in Fig. 1 the reagent addition did not decrease the rate of fouling.

By M. H. Kirchner

Trackless mining at Thabazimbi Mine by M. H. KIRCHNER. Pr. Eng.. B.Sc.. B.Sc. (Elec. Eng.)(Stellenbosch). Dip. Mining (Pta.) Certain aspects of the' methods used in the exploitation, by sub-level caving, of a wide, tabular, steeply dipping orebody are described, reference being made to the use of modern mechanized equipment. Statistics relating to production and labour, as well as some geological details, are given.

By Gregory M. Molinda

Extremely difficult ground conditions were encountered in the main belt entry in a room and pillar mine in West Virginia. Several generations of supplemental support, including cable bolts, cribbing, and Heintzmann jacks and beams failed to halt roof falls that threatened workers safety and the life of the mine. Polyurethane (PUR) was injected into 27 intersections in the roof and the results were monitored by borehole video camera. The mine had averaged 2-3 falls in the beltway per year and, since the roof injection, no roof falls have occurred. Pre- and post injection monitoring of test holes showed that stability can be achieved without filling all of the existing void spaces. Video logging showed that the project goal of building a beam from 2-6 ft into the roof was successful. Pre-injection monitoring of roof fractures uphole can delineate the zones to target for reinforcement, and avoid pumping PUR into large voids to little effect. Multiple-injection zones can be identified, and the entire intersection drill hole array can be optimized based on knowledge of the fractured zones. In addition, pre-monitoring can prevent excessive hydrofracturing in solid zones. Polyurethane injection is a proven method of rock stabilization in even the weakest, most broken ground. Optimization of the injection design by pre-injection video diagnostics can greatly contribute to the successful and efficient roof stabilization.

By F. Selig, E. J. Couch

The following points serve to supplement the interesting theoretical study on forward combustion by Thomas, and may be of some general interest. The mathematical model presented by the author can be viewed as a first approximation to the problem of calculating the vertical burned height profile resulting from ignition of the interval | z |<h/2 in a very thick formation. However, the assumption of a given minimum combustion temperature T, would give a better approximation to the vertical burned profile if the burning height were not constrained to stay within the ignited layer. This follows from the fact that both fuel and oxygen are present in the adjacent region, |z|>h/2, and for certain combinations of process variables the temperature is sufficiently high for complete combustion to occur. In this case, the vertical coverage will first become greater than the ignited interval before cutting back to zero as the extinction limit is approached as shown in Fig. 1. Such growth of vertical coverage is possible if the minimum combustion temperature is less than the initial source temperature (r = rj) at the edge (z = h/2) of the ignited interval. But this latter temperature is equal to one-half the source temperature for the case of infinite burned height.&apos;,&apos; Thus growth will occur initially if The fact that the vertical burned height can be greater than the ignited interval complicates the picture considerably, as can be seen by referring to Fig. 1. Here burning occurs in Region A, whereas none was possible in the original mathematical model. At the same time, there is no combustion in Region B, contrary to the assumption of burning in the entire layer |z|<h/2. This apparent inconsistency suggests that the vertical coverage derived from this simple model does not adequately represent the vertical height of the burned zone. A more compatible model will result from the actual stepwise calculation of the burning length (as a function of time) that would give rise to the specified combustion temperature. This problem can be more conveniently attacked by using the temperature distribution, given by the author&apos;s Eq. 12, expressed in the integrated form:

By J. C. Wilhoit, J. B. Cheatham

Although an oil well is a long cylindrical hole with an irregular bottom, it appears likely that the nature of the stress concentration at the bottom of the hole can be ascertained from an analysis of the stresses around a short cylindrical cavity with rounded comers and smooth bottom. Such a cavity is studied primarily because it leads more readily to a solution to the problem by the use of stress functions. In this paper the stress distribution around a short cylindrical cavity subjected to bit loading, overburden and drilling-fluid pressures is determined by means of an analytical solution which approximately satisfies the boundary conditions of the problem. From this solution the stresses at the corner of the hole are calculated to be about 35 per cent lower than comparable results obtained by photoelastic and relaxation analyses. This difference is apparently due to the large radius of curvature at the corner of the cavity in the present analysis. Since good agreement is obtained between the results of this analysis and the stresses calculated for a similar loading on a semi-infinite elastic solid, it is concluded that the bit action in the region near the center of the hole is not appreciably affected by the presence of the sides of the hole. INTRODUCTION Much has been written concerning drilling "under down-hole conditions" and pertaining to the stress distribution in the rock at the bottom of an oil well.1-5 For example, it is known that identical rocks can be drilled more rapidly at the surface than under subsurface conditions of pressure and stress.6 Information on the behavior of rocks under loading can be obtained from triaxial test data.7-9 From such tests it is found that rocks exhibit brittle failure when the confining pressure and pore pressure are equal, but the mode of failure may change to ductile as the difference between the confining pressure and the pore pressure is increased. Brittle failure implies that there is very little permanent deformation before fracture, whereas ductile failure indicates that permanent deformation takes place before fracture. Some rocks are ductile at differential pressures of 5,000 psi , but other rocks are brittle even at differential pressures of more than 50,000 psi. Cuttings embedded in mud at the bottom of the hole may act as a plastic mass which the bit teeth must penetrate in order to attack the virgin rock below. 10 During drilling, the mud pressure acts as the confing pressure, and in many cases the difference between the mud pressure and the formation pore pressure IS sufficiently low so that the rock most likely falls in a brittle manner. Very little penetratiori by the bit teeth may be required for brittle failure of the rock. For these brittle materials, the elastic stress distribution is of practical interest in determicing the possible effects of a given loading on failure. The penetration of bit teeth into ductile or plastic rock has been analyzed previously ll,12 and will not be considered further in the present work. During actual drilling, many teeth act at various points ovel an irregular hole bottom. In the present analysis a solution is obtained for an idealized problem of determining the elastic stress distribution caused by only one tooth acting alone at the center of a smooth hole bottom. It obviously is not proposed that any driller should put a special one-tooth bit on bottom, but it is hoped that extensions of the simpler problems can eventually lead to a better understanding of more complex actual drilling phenomena. To obtain a solution by the use of stress functions, a short cylindrical cavity with rounded corners and smooth bottom is studied. The solution to this problem should give an insight into the nature of the stress concentration at the bottom of an oil well which is in reality a long cylindrical hole with an irregularr bottom. After selection of the proper curvilinear co-ordinate system, the stress functions are expressed as series of Legendre polynomials. The coefficient of each term in the series is then determined to satisfy the boundary conditions at a finite number of discrete points on the boundary of the cavity with least square error. Results are compared with bottom-hole stresses obtained by photoelastic and relaxation analyses.

By D. R. Wilburn

This summary of international mineral exploration activities for the year 2013 draws upon information from industry sources, published literature and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) specialists. The summary provides data on exploration budgets by region and mineral commodity, identifies significant mineral discoveries and areas of mineral exploration, discusses government programs affecting the mineral exploration industry and presents analyses of exploration activities performed by the mineral industry. Three sources of information are reported and analyzed in this annual review of international exploration for the year 2013: 1) budgetary statistics expressed in U.S. nominal dollars provided by SNL Metals & Mining (SNL) of Halifax, NS, Canada (formerly Metals Economics Group (MEG); 2) regional and site-specific exploration activities that took place in 2013 as compiled by the USGS; and 3) regional events that affected exploration activities, including economic, social and political conditions, that were derived from published sources and unpublished discussions with USGS and industry specialists. Commodity and regional compilations are presented in this summary. Because multiple sources are used to develop commodity and regional compilations, reported statistics may vary depending on the source and type of data that are being reported. The SNL data summarize planned company budgets for worldwide exploration activities in 2013 for 20 nonfuel mineral commodities based on surveys returned by companies primarily focused on precious metals (gold, platinum-group metals and silver), base metals (cobalt, copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel, tin and zinc), bulk commodities (coal, iron ore, phosphate and potash), and specialty commodities (diamond, lithium, niobium, rare-earth elements, tantalum and uranium). Information on uranium exploration activities was included in the MEG overview for the first time in 2007. MEG included data on the commodities lithium, niobium, phosphate, potash, rare-earth elements and tantalum for the first time in 2010 because of the increased topical significance of these commodities. Since 1999, companies with exploration budgets of $100,000 and greater were included in the MEG and SNL compilations. SNL budget estimates exclude aluminum, coal, and oil and gas. Budget estimates for iron ore have been compiled since 2011 but reported separately. The post-1999 budget surveys by MEG and SNL cover at least 90 percent of world?s reported nonferrous, nonfuel mineral exploration budgets; the 2013 survey is reported by SNL to cover an estimated 95 percent of these budgets. The 5 percent that is not covered is accounted for by companies that chose not to participate in the SNL survey, private companies that do not publish their budget data, and government-funded exploration activities.

By P. Pollard

A method has been developed for evaluating acid treatments in fractured limestone fields by breaking down pressure drawdown into three component parts: (I) pressure differcntial across "skin" near the borehole face, (2) pressure differential due to flow resistance in the coarse communicating fissures and (3) pressure differential between the fine voids and the coarse fissures. It is apparent that in most successful acid treatments the first term, skin resistance, has been reduced or eliminated. Further, it is often possible to estimate the volume of coarse fissures associated with the second term, coarse fissure flow resistance. In cases where this volume is comparable with practical acid volumes it seems likely that this resistance also may be attacked with a suitably retarded acid. INTROD UCTION Acid treatment has been successfully applied as a general practice in the limestone wells in the Mara/ Maracaibo districts of Venezuela for some 10 years. At the same time the need has been felt for a more precise method of: (1) evaluating the effect of an acid job and (2) selecting wells which should benefit from an acid treatment. The following method, based on an analysis of build-up curves for wells producing from fractured limestone, provides a means of forecasting the effect acid will have on a well and in many cases the probable order of production rate increase which may be expected. In certain cases it is also possible to calculate the fissure volume through which the acid has to be displaced for best results. Various approximations are introduced in the method, but within the limitations of these the analysis gives an indication of how a well, whether previously acidized or not, may be expected to respond to acid treatment. Suitable build-up curves cannot be obtained on "tight" wells which do not give sustained production and the method is not applicable to such wells. Figs. 1 through 7 illustrate various types of build-up curves obtained from limestone wells in Western Venezuela. Curves are included showing (1) both skin and coarse fissure resistance, (2) skin resistance only, (3 and 4) reduction of skin resistance by acidization, (5) fissure resistance only, (6) reduction of coarse fissure resistance by acidization, and (7) acidization failure. This theory has been successfully applied for over three years during which 22 acid treatments have been carried out specifically to reduce skin resistance and three treatments to reduce coarse fissure resistance. The method has been found to be a useful aid in the selection of wells for acidization.

By K. E. Yassin, A. Yehia, M. Amar

Phosphate fines (size ≤ 45 μm), from the Red Sea Region, Egypt, were subjected to beneficiation process to recover the phosphorite grains from such fines. The sample is characterized by low P2O5 content (18.78%) associated with gangue minerals such as silica (22.77% SiO2) and carbonate (2.01% MgO) indicating its low grade. Phosphate pre-concentrate was prepared by gravity separation, using Falcon, where 63.37% of the phosphate, with 24.94% P2O5, 1.46% MgO, and 10.54% SiO2, was firstly recovered reducing the mass flow to the subsequent beneficiation process. However, the gravity tailing was the feed for the reverse phosphate flotation using bench scale column flotation where oleic acid was used as a carbonate gangue collector and amylase enzyme as a phosphate depressant. Under the appropriate flotation conditions (0.1% amylase, 5·10−4 mol/dm3 oleic acid, and temp. 30 °C), phospho-concentrate assaying 0.61% MgO, 13.14% SiO2, and 27.85% P2O5 with a P2O5 recovery of 55.45%, was finally obtained without the use of expensive depressants, e.g., phosphoric acid or sodium silicate. A tentative flow sheet for the whole process was postulated.

By W. K. C. Boemer, G. A. Davies

Vanadium slag production in the shaking ladles started in April 1968, steelmaking was begun in July 1968 and the first continuously cast blocks were produced soon after on the 29th July, 1968. Nominal monthly production of over 20 000 tons was reached in seven months and by December 1970 about 12 000 heats were cast and a monthly production of 35000 tons has been achieved.

By Oswald J. Heinrich

The responsibility resting upon the owners and managers of mines where fire-damp is generated, renders it a matter of imperative duty that a frill and correct statement of any explosion that occurs should be given to the public. But such a statement must be based on the testimony of impartial eye-witnesses or trained experts. Then a sad experience may result in the adoption of effective preventive measures. In the absence of any official and professional body of mining experts in the State of Virginia, the writer desires to submit to his professional brethren of the American Institute of Mining Engineers an account of an explosion which recently took place in a colliery under his management, and earnestly desires a thorough and impartial discussion on the Fats submitted. Description and Plan of the Mine.—The "Grove" shaft is situated at the nearest point 825 feet from the last old workings upon the Midlothian property, south of the old Pump shaft works. (See Plate 111.) The shaft was sunk by the former company, some thirty years ago, to the depth of 622 feet. An incline over 230 feet long, starting in a northwest direction at a depth of 105 feet above the shaft bottom, had been driven to explore the coal on the dip. A return of very small dimensions had been driven round the shaft on the south side, entering the upcast chamber. With the information obtained from the former company that a seam of coal about four feet thick, at a depth of 490 feet, had been found, and with the information obtained by the present proprietor, R. T. Burrows, of Albion, N. Y., by means of two boreholes on the dip west of the old shaft, in both of which workable seams of coal at various depths had been ascertained, the clearing out and thorough retimbering of this shaft were commenced in March, 1873. Borehole No. 1, at a depth of 4773 feet from surface, revealed a seam of coal. This borehole was afterwards carried to a depth of 1140 feet to the granite, without finding any other seam of coal. Borehole No. 3, at a depth of 608 feet, revealed the first coal-seam, 14 1/2 feet thick; at 633 feet, the second, 12 feet thick; at 662 feet the third, 1 foot thick, and at 692 feet the fourth, 43 to 5 feet thick. The borehole was stopped at a depth of 715 1/2 feet.

By I. M. Ahmed, R. S. Hassan, M. I. Aly

Extraction and separation of La, Sm and Dy ions from acidic sulfate-phosphate solutions was investigated using a cation exchange extractant, bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid, CYANEX 272, in kerosene. The influence of shaking time, equilibrium pH, extractant, sulfate and phosphate ion concentrations, diluent type and temperature was studied. The extraction was found to be pH-dependent, and increasing the phosphate ion concentration inhibited the extraction which was found to be endothermic. The stoichiometry of the extracted metal species was found to be MOH.H2OHSO4H2A.A2. Aliphatic diluents were found to enhance the extraction compared to aromatic diluents. The results showed that there was a separation mode between the metal ions when varying the hydrogen ion and sulfate ion concentrations, under the used experimental conditions. The investigated process was used for the recovery of La, Sm and Dy from the acid solution resulting from the leaching of low-grade monazite.

By Edward L. McHugh, Charles Sabine, David G. Long

While less than 1% of reported mine accidents are associated with slope stability problems, slope failure accidents were responsible for about 15% of U.S. surface mine fatalities between 1995 and 2003. Small rockfalls, which may involve hand-sized rocks weighing only a few pounds, can cause fatal injuries to workers away from the protection of large machinery. Massive highwall failures containing a million cubic yards of material or more can be fatal even for heavy-equipment operators. As part of an ongoing study at the Spokane Research Laboratory, several remote sensing technologies are being evaluated as tools to assess slope stability and monitor slopes for hazards. An interferometric radar device capable of detecting very small displacements on slopes has been assembled and tested. Radar techniques can provide new tools to augment current methods for monitoring ground control hazards in mines.

By G. L. Gates

The comments by George L. Gates are appropriate to the characteristics that we sought to feature in our study and they are appreciated by the authors. In our laboratory deposition tests the smoothness of the surface seemed to be more important than the type of surface. However, we also noted that even where very smooth glass, plastic or polished metal coupons were used, scale deposition still occurred though the rate varied. Much more information is needed, however, and new work to solve the mineral scale deposition problem by mechanical and chemical means is expected to continue.

As longwall shields are lowered in preparation for advance, dust from the canopy falls directly into the air stream with the potential of becoming entrained. Historical dust sampling data from the early 1980s shows that shield advance contributed an average of 12 percent to the airborne respirable dust levels found on longwalls in the United States. Data from the 1990s indicates that shield dust liberation had increased to an average of 23 percent. Increased longwall production levels over this time resulted in the need to move a larger number of shields during each shift, while an increase in air velocities on the face was also occurring. These factors combine to suggest that greater quantities of shield dust are being entrained into the face air. A series of controlled laboratory tests were conducted in a test stand simulating shield dust entrainment to evaluate changes in airborne respirable dust levels at different air velocities. Significant differences in respirable dust entrainment were observed. The test facility, test methodology, and dust sampling results will be reviewed and discussed